Managing diabetes care using an integrated regional e-health approach

Abstract

A total of 175 patients with Types 1 and 2 diabetes in primary care and university hospital outpatient departments were randomized into a study group (n = 101) or usual care (n = 74). The study group used an e-health application with a diabetes management system and a home care link. Usual care did not involve e-health, i.e. the patients made regular general practitioner visits about every three months. After 12 months HbA_1c decreased significantly in both groups of patients. The differences were small, but HbA_1c was significantly lower in the study group than the controls. Diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum total cholesterol, serum LDL-cholesterol and serum triglycerides were significantly lower in the study than in the control group. This was achieved with fewer visits by study patients to doctors and nurses. Use of e-health in diabetes care for 12 months was able to provide equivalent diabetic control to usual care, and improved cardiovascular risk factors.